Improvement in boots and shoes



N. PETERS, FHOTO-LJTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, c.

UNITED STATES JOHN DICK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,840, dated November 4, 1842.

To all whom i2? may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN DICK, of the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manner of Making Boots and Shoes of Various Descriptions; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof.

My improvement consists in the inserting of an elastic metallic shank, made of thin sheet-steel or of a plate of other elastic metal, between the out and in sole of the boot or shoe, which elastic shank is to extend from the ball of the boot or shoe to within abouta fourth of an inch of the heel rand.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 5 represents the elastic shank separate from the boot or shoe. Its outline is to be such as shall adapt it to the particular boot, shoe, pump, or gaiter to which it is to be applied. It is best made of thin sheet-steel brought to a spring-temper. It is to be flat in that part which is intended to be elastic, as from J to H; but the heel part is made dishing, as will be seen in the longitudinal section, Fig. 6, made in the line 00 :r of Fig. 5, and in the cross-section, Fig. 7, made in the liney y. It is made somewhat convex also at its opposite end, as shown in the cross-section, Fig. 8, taken in the line 2 5.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,A represents the insole of a boot, shoe, or pump, the outsole not having been put on.

In Fig. 1, B B shows the upper as it is lasted over the shank, the line a a showing the stitches by which it is secured, as will be readily understood by the craft.

Fig. 2 shows the elastic shank placed on the part which it is to occupy and ready to be secured there by the outsole. D D D are holes made through its heel part, and through these holes nails or screws are to be passed from the inside, which keep the shank firm and secure the heel in place. Holes should be pricked through the insole when the shank is adjusted to' correspond with the holes D D. The dotted lines b bshow the place of the stitches that are to be taken in what is commonly called a channel-shank, but they may be made with welts all round in the ordinary manner. The stitches should be near to the metallic, shank, the edges of which should be made smooth and rounding.

In Fig. ,3, C 0 show the metallic shank as applied to a ladys gait-er or pump, which is made as those represented in Figs. 1 and 2,

excepting in the stitching all round the heel,

as well as around the shank. Fig. 2 shows the metallic shank O O placed on a mans shoe or pump, stitched around in the manner of Fig. 3.

The sole maybe made an inch (more orless) wider than the metallic shank, as shown by the line I I, Figs. 1 and 2, and the metallic shank so inserted will give support to the upper and add greatly tothe strength of the boot, shoe, or pump.

I am aware that metallic shanks are not new, boots and shoes having been made with such as were unyielding and of cast metal, which shanks took the place of the outsole in that part of the boot or shoe. I do not therefore claim the use of metallic shanks when so made; but

What I do claim as new and as constituting my invention is- The insertion of elastic metallic shanks, formed and applied, substantially in the manner herein set forth, between the insole and outsole of boots, shoes, and pumps of all descriptions to which they can be applied.

JOHN DICK. \Vitnesses:

WM. LINN BROWN, JOHN BURNS. 

